Oak Ridge Archives - Page 102 of 136

Chamber forms Progress PAC, two Council members seek legal action

Posted at 12:55 am September 23, 2014
By John Huotari 11 Comments

Trina Baughn

Note: This story was updated at 10:30 a.m.

Two Oak Ridge City Council members have requested a special meeting this week to consider litigation against the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, seeking to prevent the business organization from conducting political activities on public property, including through a new political action committee.

The special meeting, which would be open to the public, has been requested by Oak Ridge City Council members Trina Baughn and Anne Garcia Garland. Baughn said she requested the meeting to “vote upon initiating litigation against the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce so that the city may seek either injunctive relief and/or a temporary restraining order with regards to their conducting political activities on public property.”

Stephen Whitson

On Friday, the Chamber announced it had formed a political action committee named the Progress PAC. The multi-candidate PAC will support candidates in the November elections for Oak Ridge Board of Education and City Council, a press release said.

Stephen Whitson of Oak Ridge has been elected Progress PAC chair, and David Bradshaw, also of Oak Ridge, has been named treasurer. Both are past chairs of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

In the press release, Whitson said the Progress PAC will only consider supporting candidates who respond to an issue-based written questionnaire and participate in an interview with Progress PAC members. [Read more…]

Presidential museum, heritage tourism experts to be featured in AMSE meetings

Posted at 8:42 pm September 21, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Alan Lowe

The director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas will be featured in a community meeting in October on the future of the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.

During that Thursday, October 9 meeting, Alan Lowe will discuss the process of developing and managing facilities that function as both research libraries and historical museum attractions, a press release said.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is located inside the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. In his role as director, Lowe oversees millions of presidential records as well as exhibits related to the important issues and events of the Bush Administration, a press release said. [Read more…]

Sewer rehab work continues week of Sept. 22

Posted at 7:11 pm September 21, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue this week, starting Monday, September 22.

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the City of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information.

Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are urged to use extra care and caution when traveling on the streets with sewer work areas, a press release said. Temporary road repairs will be made, and loose gravel should be expected until the patches are permanently paved. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge street resurfacing begins September 23

Posted at 6:52 pm September 21, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 5 Comments

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department plans to resurface the following city streets beginning Tuesday, September 23: [Read more…]

Former Oak Ridge rowing director could lead ORCVB

Posted at 4:41 pm September 18, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Marc DeRose

Note: This story was updated at 5:55 p.m.

A former Oak Ridge rowing director could become the next executive director of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The ORCVB board of directors on Thursday voted 4-3 to offer the job to Marc A. DeRose, subject to reference checks. If hired, DeRose will replace former longtime director Katy Brown, who became ORCVB president in 2006 and left in July to take a new marketing and promotions job covering Knoxville and Chattanooga.

DeRose was hired by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association in August 2013, and he resigned from his head coach and rowing director position in May of this year, saying the job was “not the right fit for me and my family,” the ORRA said in a press release this spring.

Other candidates for the ORCVB job, which offers a starting salary of $45,000 per year, were Lila Wilson, director of special events for the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, and Naomi Asher, executive director of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. ORCVB board members said Asher withdrew her application, saying she wanted to continue working for CASA.

Wilson received three votes on Thursday, picking up one less than DeRose’s four. [Read more…]

DFET: Meet the candidates on Oct. 9

Posted at 1:01 am September 18, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A local organization is sponsoring a Meet the Candidates event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, October 9, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Gymnasium. It’s been organized by Democracy for East Tennessee, and residents of Anderson and surrounding counties are invited, a press release said.

Candidates for the following offices have been invited: Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Tennessee House of Representatives 33rd District, State Senate 5th District, 3rd U.S. Congressional District, and U.S. Senate.

The election is November 4. The October 9 event will offer residents a chance to become better informed and acquainted with candidates by meeting with them on an individual basis at a single event, a press release said. [Read more…]

Household hazardous waste collection on Sept. 27

Posted at 10:55 pm September 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County Solid Waste Management, along with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, will be holding its Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 27, at the Oak Ridge Public Works Building at 100 Woodbury Lane.

See this flyer for more information: [Read more…]

TDOT presents $237,500 signal timing grant to Oak Ridge

Posted at 3:01 pm September 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

TDOT Commissioner John Schroer presents a signal optimization grant check to Oak Ridge Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Grant for signal optimization

The City of Oak Ridge has been awarded a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant for $237,500 for a signal timing optimization project, and TDOT Commissioner John Schroer recently presented the award to Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller in Nashville.

The signal timing optimization grant is funded by the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, or CMAQ, which supports transportation projects that reduce air emissions from on-road sources and non-road sources, as well as projects that reduce traffic congestion, a press release said.

“The city is pleased to receive this grant which will significantly enhance air quality and reduce congested roadways,” Oak Ridge City Engineer Steve Byrd said in the press release.

The signal timing optimization project will target 26 traffic signals on Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge Turnpike, and Lafayette Drive. The program will synchronize these lights in order to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and vehicle idling, and decrease commuter travel time. [Read more…]

ORPD Records to close part of Oct. 1 for training

Posted at 2:44 pm September 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department Records Bureau will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 1 while staff attends training. The office will then be open from 2 to 5 p.m.

Business executive, community volunteer running for City Council

Posted at 12:16 pm September 16, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Kelly Callison

Business executive and community volunteer Kelly Callison is running for Oak Ridge City Council in the November 4 municipal election.

Callison is chief operating officer of Information International Associates Inc. He is also vice chairman of the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission.

In a press release, Callison said he thinks his community, business, and military experience will enable him to bring a cooperative and positive approach to city government. Callison said he will focus on “maintaining our great schools, improving housing, and increasing retail and commercial business.”

Callison and his family came to Oak Ridge seven years ago and have been active in the community from the beginning, the press release said. Besides serving as vice chair of the Municipal Planning Commission, Callison is a member of the East Tennessee Economic Council, a member of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Task Force, a board member of Contact CareLine, president of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club, and a member of the Oak Ridge Chapter of the League of Woman Voters. [Read more…]

Public notice for U.S. HUD, CDBG Entitlement Program, City of Oak Ridge

Posted at 10:15 am September 12, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program

City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT

Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for

CDBG Program Year 2013 / City of Oak Ridge Fiscal Year 2014

and

Technical Assistance for CDBG Public (Social) Service Sub-recipient Applications (PY 2014/FY 2015)

Notice is hereby given by the City of Oak Ridge that the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) 2013-2014 has been drafted and will be made available to the public for review for a period of 15 days. A copy of the draft will be posted on the City of Oak Ridge’s Community Development website or a physical copy of the draft can be obtained by request to the Community Development office (200 S. Tulane Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830) after 8:30 a.m., Monday, September 15, 2014.

Notice is also hereby given that the City of Oak Ridge will hold a public meeting regarding the CAPER 2013-2014 on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building’s City Manager Conference Room. The Municipal Building is located at 200 S. Tulane Ave, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

The City of Oak Ridge is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to annually submit a CAPER. This report provides an assessment of expenditures and accomplishments of the City’s progress in carrying out the final year of its Consolidated Plan (2011-2014), and its one year Annual Action Plan (2013 – 2014) for the Community Development Block Grant Program. The CAPER covers community development objectives undertaken during the period of July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 and does not establish any new policy.

The CAPER report contains a summary of programmatic accomplishments, the geographic distribution and location of investments, actions taken to further Fair Housing, and other actions indicated in the Consolidated and Annual Action Plans. The purpose of this notice is to make the CAPER report available to the public for comments prior to its submittal to HUD. The CAPER will be submitted to HUD by close of business, September 30, 2014. Deadline for comments is Monday, September 29, 2014 at 5 p.m. Comments may be submitted one of four ways. 1) In person: During the public meeting on Thursday, September 18th from 6-7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building’s Training Room. 2) Email: email all comments to Sherith Colverson by the deadline date, scolverson@oakridgetn.gov. 3) Mail: Attn: Sherith Colverson, City of Oak Ridge, Community Development Department, 200 S Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. 4) Phone: 865.200.6989.

Call for Public (Social) Service Applications & Technical Assistance Meeting

Notice is also hereby given that the City of Oak Ridge will be accepting public (social) service sub-recipient applications for CDBG funding (if selected by City Council), from January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015 in a total amount not to exceed $34,077.00. A digital application will be found on the City of Oak Ridge’s Community Development website or a physical copy of the application can be requested in person at the Community Development office (200 S Tulane Ave. Oak Ridge, TN 37830) after 8:30 a.m., Monday, September 8, 2014. The City of Oak Ridge will hold a technical assistance meeting for interested applicants on Monday, September 22, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building’s Training Room. The Municipal Building is located at 200 S. Tulane Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

The deadline for organizations and agencies to submit a CDBG public (social) service application for funding is Thursday, September 25, 2014, at 5 p.m. Applications can be submitted one of three ways. 1) In person: Completed applications can be dropped off before the deadline to the City of Oak Ridge’s Community Development Department, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 2) Email: Completed applications can be emailed to Sherith Colverson by the deadline date and time, scolverson@oakridgetn.gov. 3) Mail: Attn: Sherith Colverson, City of Oak Ridge, Community Development Department, 200 S Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

The City of Oak Ridge does not discriminate against anyone based on race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, related medical condition or disability. Please call Sherith Colverson at least 48 hours prior to the meeting times listed above at 865.200.6989 for assistance with translation or accommodations. Reasonable accommodations will be made upon a timely request.

Lincoln’s Sports Grille requests court hearing after beer permit revoked

Posted at 5:56 pm September 11, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Lincoln’s Sports Grille on South Illinois Avenue is pictured above. (File photo)

A few days after its beer permit was revoked late last month, Lincoln’s Sports Grille requested a hearing in Anderson County Chancery Court and asked that the revocation be put on hold while the legal case is pending.

Lincoln’s, which had its beer permit revoked by a city board on August 28, said it has been hit with a “more substantial penalty than similar establishments have faced with similar conduct.”

The beer permit of the popular restaurant and bar, which opened about 4.5 years ago, was revoked for one year after its fifth show cause hearing before the Oak Ridge Beer Permit Board, and the second called after Lincoln’s sold beer to a minor.

In a petition filed September 2, Lincoln’s asked the Anderson County Chancery Court for a hearing to determine whether the business “violated any rules of conduct pertaining to the sale of beer and the appropriate punishment.”

The litigation could be protracted, the petition said. Lincoln’s is represented by Oak Ridge attorney Kevin C. Angel.

“Failure of this court to issue a stay of the Beer Board’s decision will result in irreparable loss to the petitioner (Lincoln’s) because it severely impacts petitioner’s ability to do business while the matter is pending,” Lincoln’s said. “On the other hand, if this court grants a stay and ultimately upholds the decision of the Beer Board, the petitioner can still be suspended for a year after this court’s decision. Thus, a stay of the Beer Board’s decision is in the interest of justice.” [Read more…]

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